Investigators used dogs to search in hog confinement buildings linked to the man suspected of kidnapping Shepard.

Special agent Bill Kietzman of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said Tuesday that 20 law enforcement officials with dogs were searching for Kathlynn Shepard at hog lots where Michael Klunder worked.

Kietzman said many of the areas have already been searched multiple times, but that investigators were using "different dogs to see if we have any luck."

Police said Klunder abducted Kathlynn and a 12-year-old friend last week while they were walking home from school in Dayton. The 12-year-old escaped at a hog confinement where Shepard took them, but Kathlynn has been missing. Police say Klunder committed suicide hours after the abduction.

Investigators said law enforcement and volunteers have searched approximately 220 square miles of Webster, Boone and Hamilton counties.

Weather prohibited river searches Tuesday because the Des Moines River is above flood stage and has become too dangerous to patrol, officials said.

Investigators Meeting:

Investigators said they met Tuesday to decide what to do next in the search.

Dayton Police Chief Nick Dunbar said investigators from several agencies met Tuesday to compare notes and to discuss how to proceed. He said searchers are planning to recheck some areas that have already been searched, and are also going out to new areas in the region.

Dunbar said analysts are trying to "come up with a definitive path" traveled by Michael Klunder, who authorities said committed suicide hours after kidnapping Shepard and a 12-year-old friend. The 12-year-old escaped at a hog confinement where the girls were taken.

Shepard's Family Talks:

Shepard's family is speaking out about the case and how they are coping with all that has happened.

Michael Shepard, Kathlynn's father, said this past week has been unimaginable. He said their family wouldn't be able to cope if it wasn't for all the support they've received from the Dayton community.

"It's like we have been here all of our lives," Shepard said. "The support is... I can't find a word to say what the support has been like."

The town of Dayton is covered in many purple ribbons. Purple is Kathlynn's favorite color.

Purple ribbons are tied around nearly every street sign and tree. Local businesses are also selling ribbons to benefit the family.

Authorities said Kathlynn and Dezi Hughes, 12, were kidnapped last Monday by Michael Klunder, and taken to a nearby hog confinement.

Hughes managed to escape and Klunder committed suicide.

Kathlynn's father said it's hard to put into words what the family is going through.

He said he'll never understand why this happened to his daughter, a smiling 15-year-old who loved people, animals, and the Minnesota Vikings.

He said the family will never give up searching for her, and they don't question if she'll come, just when.

Shepard said he is glad Hughes escaped. He said he has talked to her many times about what happened, and said he is her biggest fan.

It's been one week and still no sign of 15 year old Kathlynn Shepard. State and local investigators plan to meet tomorrow to discuss the next steps in the search. This is video from Friday. The DNR and volunteers were still looking today. Kathlynn and 12 year old Dezi Hughes were kidnapped after getting off the school bus in Dayton. Dezi managed to escape. Investigators say Michael Klunder took the girls and then killed himself. Today Kathlynn's family talked to KCCI in their first televised interview. Laura Nichols shows us why they've made it their mission to make sure this doesn't happen to another family. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHY IT WAS KATHLYNN. THERE IS NO WAY WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHY HE GOT OUT... THAT'S THE PART THAT UPSETS ME. THAT'S THE PART THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. Michael Shepard can't help but think that if Michael Klunder was still in prison -- his daughter Kathlynn would be home safe with her family. HAD HE BEEN IN THERE IT STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER 18 YEARS BEFORE HE'D HAVE BEEN OUT. SO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 18 YEARS HE COULDN'T HAVE HURT ANYBODY. But after serving just over 20 years for a kidnapping conviction Klunder got out of prison because state law says he didn't have to serve a mandatory sentence. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GOOD BEHAVIOR FOR THAT KIND OF A CRIME. The Shepard family says it's time to change the law -- and they're hoping Kathlynn's story will help do that. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REFORM. KEEP THEM THERE. THEY ARE GOING TO HURT SOMEONE ELSE. WHETHER IT'S A 21 YEAR OLD, A 15 YEAR OLD, OR A 3 YEAR OLD. THEY ARE GOING TO HURT SOMEBODY ELSE. THE MANDATORY SENTENCING WOULD MAKE IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO CONTIUE ON THAT PATH. It's the Shepard family's new mission -- working to change the the law so that no one else has the go through the unimaginable pain they are. IF WE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEBODY ELSE...THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT. Laura Nichols, KCCI 8 News, Iowa's News Leader. Kathlynn's family is not giving up hope! They say it's not IF she's coming home,

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